Showalter time

Tonight's game was completed in 1 hour, 55 minutes. The anthems took longer. The Orioles hadn't played a nine-inning game in under two hours since May 25, 2005 vs. Seattle. That game also lasted 1:55. Showalter joked about all the smiling faces in the interview room. We're easy to please. Showalter wasn't going to yank Brad Bergesen after eight innings, though he played all the scenarios in his head. "You think about it. You know where they are in the order, but I thought he...
Kyle Drabek pitched pretty well at Camden Yards tonight in his Major League debut. But Brad Bergesen was better. The O's great run of starting pitching continued Wednesday night as the Orioles beat Toronto 3-1 on Bergesen's seven-hitter to complete a three-game sweep. Bergesen improves to 7-10, 5.03 and pitched his second complete game of the season and the Orioles third. Buck Showalter talks with the media after the O's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays He got plenty of defensive help as...
Kyle Drabek sure handled himself well and was pretty impressive in his Major League debut tonight. He leaves trailing 3-1 to Brad Bergesen and the Orioles as the O's bat in the seventh. He gave up nine hits and three runs, throwing 88 pitches through six frames. He showed a low 90's fastball and two pretty good curveballs. He limited damage during a couple of jams and fanned five. Bergesen has worked fast, throwing strikes tonight and his defense has been stellar, turning two double...
Manager Buck Showalter wanted to get Corey Patterson in the lineup tonight. That was his primary motivation for starting Luke Scott at first base. Move Ty Wigginton to third and free up the DH spot for Patterson. Showalter knew that the Yankees were expected to start left-handers CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte this weekend. He also knew that Patterson had one at-bat since Sept. 6. So what happens? Patterson grounds a run-scoring single into right field in the fourth inning to give the Orioles...
Jose Bautista, who did not homer in 11 Orioles at bats in 2004, tonight hit his seventh homer this year against Baltimore pitching. Bautista has 17 hits this year vs. the O's and 14 have gone for extra-bases after he homered off Brad Bergesen in the first tonight. He is 17 for 55 (.309) vs. the O's in 2010 with six doubles, a triple, seven homers and 16 RBI. He began this game with an OPS of 1.159 vs. Orioles pitching. He also has homered six times on the season vs. the Red Sox and...
Jose Bautista just homered into the Orioles' bullpen with two outs in the first inning, giving the Blue Jays a quick lead. Bautista has tied the Blue Jays' single-season record of 47 homers, originally set by George Bell in 1987. And I still can't wrap my head around it. Jose Bautista? Really? If he still played for the Orioles, he'd be a nugget. Brad Bergesen got ahead of Bautista, 0-1, with a 92 mph fastball. He threw another 92 mph fastball and almost wiped out a few...
Luke Scott had no idea that he was starting at first base until heading for the field to take batting practice. He took a quick glance at the lineup as he passed manager Buck Showalter's office and said, "Wow, I'm 3." That number indicates first base. He's used to seeing the letters DH. Scott dropped his bat and raced back to his locker to exchange his glove for a first baseman's mitt. Showalter wanted to check out Scott at first base, but he also wanted to get Corey Patterson in the...
Brian Matusz says the inflammation is down in his left arm and he's only dealing with a slight bruise. He played long toss with Jeremy Guthrie and is ready to take his normal turn in the rotation. It's up to manager Buck Showalter whether Matusz makes his next start on Monday in Fenway Park, but the rookie says he's physically fit. "I felt good and that's the most important thing," he said. "I'll get back on my current routine." That includes throwing a bullpen session on Friday to...
His father made his first-ever Major League start in Baltimore and Kyle Drabek will do the same tonight, pitching for Toronto vs. the Orioles. After pitching four times in relief, former Cy Young winner Doug Drabek, who was an Oriole himself in 1998, made his first career start for the Yankees at Memorial Stadium on June 15, 1986. This will be the younger Drabek's Major League debut. The 22-year-old Drabek was the Eastern League pitcher of the year this season, going 14-9, 2.94 over 27...
Whether Jake Arrieta makes his next start depends on a couple of factors, according to manager Buck Showalter. Showalter will monitor the rookie's workout days and wait until Brian Matusz's next start becomes official. Matusz is playing catch today to test his left arm, which is sporting a bruise after being hit by a line drive. "Try to get a feel for where Brian would go back in," Showalter said. "It could affect Jake a little bit." Arrieta's next turn would fall on Tuesday in...
My entry this morning that included the box score from the forfeited game in Toronto 33 years ago stirred a minor debate over manager Earl Weaver's actual beef with the umpiring crew. I didn't recall every detail and relied on baseball-reference.com's explanation before taking advantage of a job perk and placing a few calls. "I remember that the issue was a tarp down in the bullpen," said center fielder Al Bumbry, who doubled in that game and was the only Oriole with three at-bats...